The Music of the Spheres
In Our Time19 Jun 2008

The Music of the Spheres

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the music of the spheres, the elegant and poetic idea that the revolution of the planets generates a celestial harmony of profound and transcendent beauty. In Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice the young Lorenzo woos his sweetheart with talk of the stars: “There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’stBut in his motion like an angel sings,Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins;Such harmony is in immortal souls;But whilst this muddy vesture of decayDoth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.”The idea of music of the spheres ran through late antiquity and the medieval period into the Renaissance and its echoes could be heard in astrology and astronomy, in theology, and, of course, in music itself. Influenced by Pythagoras and Plato, it was discussed by Cicero, Boethius, Marcello Ficino and Johannes Kepler It affords us a glimpse into minds for which the universe was full of meaning, of strange correspondences and grand harmonies.With Peter Forshaw, Postdoctoral Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London; Jim Bennett, Director of the Museum of the History of Science at the University of Oxford and Angela Voss, Director of the Cultural Study of Cosmology and Divination at the University of Kent, Canterbury.

Episoder(1077)

On Liberty

On Liberty

Journalist, author and historian Misha Glenny presents his first edition of In Our Time, succeeding Melvyn Bragg who retired from this role last summer. Misha and his guests discuss the landmark work ...

12 Feb 49min

Welcoming Misha Glenny to the In Our Time studio

Welcoming Misha Glenny to the In Our Time studio

Misha Glenny introduces himself to you ahead of his first episode on 15th January, answering some questions from producer Simon Tillotson and sharing what's coming up in the first few weeks.In Our Tim...

5 Feb 6min

While you wait: The Death of Reading (from The Global Story)

While you wait: The Death of Reading (from The Global Story)

While you wait for the new season of In Our Time with Misha Glenny, we’re introducing you to The Global Story, a new daily podcast from the BBC. In this episode, writer and voracious reader James Mar...

29 Jan 27min

Melvyn Bragg meets Misha Glenny

Melvyn Bragg meets Misha Glenny

Before Misha Glenny's first edition on 15th January, BBC Radio 4's flagship news programme Today has brought Melvyn Bragg and Misha Glenny together so they can share their ideas about In Our Time's su...

22 Jan 16min

Civility: Talking With Those Who Disagree With You

Civility: Talking With Those Who Disagree With You

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the idea that Civility, in one of its meanings, is among the most valuable social virtues: the skill to discuss topics that really matter to you, with someone who disag...

31 Jul 202551min

Dragons

Dragons

Melvyn Bragg and guests explore dragons, literally and symbolically potent creatures that have appeared in many different guises in countries and cultures around the world. Sometimes compared to snake...

24 Jul 202546min

Barbour's 'Brus'

Barbour's 'Brus'

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss John Barbour's epic poem The Brus, or Bruce, which he wrote c1375. The Brus is the earliest surviving poem in Older Scots and the only source of many of the stories of ...

17 Jul 202549min

The Evolution of Lungs

The Evolution of Lungs

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the evolution of lungs and of the first breaths, which can be traced back 400 million years to when animal life spread from rock pools and swamps onto land, as some fis...

10 Jul 202548min

Populært innen Historie

henrettelsespodden
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
rss-katastrofe
rss-historiske-romanser
historier-som-endret-norge
rss-benadet
historier-som-endret-verden
aftenposten-historie
rss-frontkjemperne
sektledere
rss-gamle-greier
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
med-egne-oyne
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
taakeprat
historiepodden-ww2
undersattene
sannhet-eller-konspirasjon
vare-historier
historiepodden